Internet for All Now Act Passes State Assembly

SACRAMENTO, CA)— On Thursday, the California State Assembly voted with overwhelming favor on Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s (D-Coachella) AB 1665, The Internet for All Now Act of 2017.

AB 1665 will allocate $330 million and extend the soon to expire California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) for broadband deployment and adoption in rural and low income urban areas lacking sufficient internet infrastructure.

The CASF was established by the Legislature in 2008 and is administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

“This Internet for All Now Act of 2017 aims to increase connectivity to the more than 5 million Californians stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide. Low income urban and rural communities like those in my district are most affected by this deficit. Internet access has become a necessity and should be treated as a right, not a luxury,” professed Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia. “Providing this modern day necessity will open up educational, health and economic opportunities and ensure we do not overlook our most vulnerable.”

“California is birthplace of the internet, yet there are still large areas of the state where residents are still without access to the most basic internet service that we all take for granted,” said Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Communications & Conveyance. “AB 1665 is a huge step towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that the benefits of broadband can be made available to everyone.”

This year’s measure will call upon the CPUC to reach a goal of 98% household connectivity per region. AB 1665 also stipulates greater legislative oversight and accountability over the CPUC’s administration of funds to improve the program.

This broadband policy initiative led by Garcia is coauthored by a bipartisan ensemble of legislators; Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Bonta (D-Oakland), Dahle (R- Bieber), Gallagher (R-Yuba City), Holden (D-Pasadena), Low (D-Silicon Valley), McCarty (D- Sacramento), Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) Wood (D-Healdsburg) Chiu (D-San Francisco), Eggman (D-Stockton), Mathis (R-Visalia), Mullin (D-San Mateo) Caballero (D-Salinas), Gipson (D-Carson), Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), Lackey (R–Palmdale), Levine (D-Marin County), Medina (D-Riverside), Reyes (D-San Bernardino) and Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), many of whom rose to advocate for this bill on the floor.

“Collaboration and inclusion were the key principles of this discussion. This feat was made possible through the dedicated efforts of a bipartisan collective of coauthors and the leadership of Chairman Santiago,” complimented Assemblymember Garcia.

“The digital divide is just not acceptable in the 21st Century. Rural Californians deserve the same access and opportunity as those in urban areas.  AB 1665 will help improve public safety, economic competition, and educational opportunities in the North State and beyond,” stated Assemblymember Gallagher (R-Yuba City).

The Internet For All Now Act addresses the needs of rural  and disadvantaged communities like Imperial County, within the author’s district that are not fully served by large telecom companies.

“I commend Assemblymember Garcia’s leadership and efforts to close the Digital Divide in California,” exclaimed Imperial County Board of Supervisors, Chairman Michael Kelley, District 3. “AB 1665 will ensure that vulnerable, disadvantaged communities, such as Imperial County, will receive the support that is needed to increase access to the internet for the residents and businesses in the outlying areas of our County and others like it.  We look forward to its passage on the Senate side.”

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Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife.  He represents the 56th district, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.